George Groebner/The Mossy Log
On Sept. 9, on the Academic Quad in a mid-afternoon combination of sun and shade that made event photography a delightful challenge, the Lewis & Clark Office of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs held their annual Study Abroad Fair. Students and faculty with experience studying overseas answered questions about their respective programs and provided guidance about deadlines, timing and choosing the perfect experience.
Associate Director at the Office of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs Kaitlin Sommerfeld was on the ground running the fair. She was quick to give credit to students and faculty leaders for helping things run smoothly, noting in an email to The Mossy Log that “the fair was well attended by prospective overseas students” and that a high number of student and faculty representatives behind the tables “made the event a success.”
Talia Veld ’29, was one of many new students who attended the fair. Despite already coming in with a strong interest in studying overseas, Veld said they found the fair to be very useful.
“It was helpful to know what the non-language-based programs would be like, and specifically how major-focused everything was, and how to find major-focused programs,” Veld stated.
Veld also shared that LC’s study abroad program was a factor in their decision to commit to the college, noting that scholarship transfer and the lack of additional costs relative to a semester on campus were additional draws.
Sommerfeld acknowledged that studying abroad can be an overwhelming experience due to language barriers and cultural differences, but emphasized that LC students are known to prevail.
“Our students tend to find that these challenges help them build skills, such as increased flexibility, and lead them to amazing experiences and opportunities that they might not have otherwise had,” Sommerfeld said.
Sommerfeld also noted that students on faculty-led cohort programs often form strong bonds with their fellow students as well as their program leaders.
When researching study abroad options, students sometimes run into roadblocks with scheduling, since programs such as Morocco and Ireland are only available during select semesters. However, many other programs are offered every semester, and there is no shortage of variety.
Veld said they found that the quantity and diversity of LC study abroad programs made up for the inconsistency in some program’s schedules.
Many of the students behind the tables at the fair emphasized that an LC study abroad program can often offer travel opportunities beyond the specific city it’s located in, particularly in metropolises such as London. The ease of travel both inside and out of cities seemed to be a large benefit for expanding students’ international experiences.
Veld said that many of the student representatives for European study abroad programs listed the ease of long-distance travel as one of their favorite aspects. Veld added that European transit systems are much more robust than American ones in their experience, mentioning that they have traveled between Germany and the Netherlands by train.
Though studying abroad can be complex and daunting, it is also a transformative experience that shapes students’ futures and careers. For students curious about studying abroad, email overseas@lclark.edu or stop by the Office of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs in Albany 206. The deadline to apply for summer, fall and full year 2026 programs is Oct. 6.
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